What Obesity Does to Your Health

There are serious physical and psychological effects

Nearly one-third of Americans are now obese (twice as many as in 1960), and nearly two-thirds are overweight.

Nearly three-quarters of obese men and women have depression.

Obesity doubles the risk for early death (from any cause, but mainly from heart disease).

Seventy percent of diabetes risk is linked to overweight.

It’s a slippery slope from “pleasantly plump” to obese. And while a few extra pounds may not be dangerous, once weight gain becomes a pattern, minor issues can grow into major health risks:

Heart disease — Heart disease is one of the best-known health consequences of overweight, says cardiologist Bruce Silverberg, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Obesity causes plaque to form in the walls of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). “Because the heart has to work harder circulating blood through narrowed arteries, blood pressure goes up,” Silverberg says. “To adapt, the heart muscle becomes thicker and stiffer.” The result is a higher risk for congestive heart failure, heart attack and stroke.

Type 2 diabetes — Diabetes, on the rise in Americans of every age, also can be traced to the national “obesity epidemic.” It’s almost impossible to have diabetes without also having heart disease, Silverberg says: “In fact, by the time a person is diagnosed with adult onset (type 2) diabetes, he or she already has some arteriosclerosis.”

Emotional problems — In a culture obsessed with thinness, it’s easy for overweight people to feel like failures, says support group facilitator Jane Banach of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s Weight Management Center. They often face social bias and job discrimination, and even friends and family are rarely sympathetic about weight struggles. Depression is a common problem, Banach says—and it creates a vicious cycle. “In that low state of mind, it’s hard to get up the energy to exercise, even though it would really help.”

Stress on joints — Extra weight is hard on the back, hips, knees, ankles and feet, says internist and geriatrician Thomas Brislin, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “This often causes pain and osteoarthritis, a further disincentive to exercise.”

Sleep problems — Extra fat in the chest and neck can impede breathing, a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. It’s associated with heavy snoring (which can strain relationships) and daytime fatigue (which can interfere with daily functioning).

Digestive and bladder issues — Accumulated fat in the abdominal area presses on internal organs and can cause gastric reflux and problems with bladder control.

Certain cancers — Endometrial, breast and colon cancer are more common among the overweight.

Obesity not only raises the risk for health problems, it also can make treating them more difficult. “For example, surgeries take longer, more anesthesia is needed, and complications are more likely,” Brislin says. “It’s also a challenge for the hospital staff to lift and move an obese patient.”

Want to Know More about the difference between overweight and obesity? It’s based on body mass index (BMI). For a BMI chart, call 610-402-CARE.

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